GB2085545A

GB2085545A - Joints for containers

Info

Publication number: GB2085545A
Application number: GB8032982A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: TRANSIT PACKAGING Ltd
Current assignee: TRANSIT PACKAGING Ltd
Priority date: 1980-10-13
Filing date: 1980-10-13
Publication date: 1982-04-28

Abstract

The sides 12 of a container are secured to a pallet deck 11 by means of a first part 13 or 30 secured to the side or deck and having a slot 19, 20 or 35, 36 is a portion which projects beyond the side or deck's edge. The slot receives a tongue 25 or 45 on a second part 14 or 39 secured to the deck or side. Teeth on the tongue prevent withdrawal. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in securing devices The invention relates to devices for securing together boards or panels of sheet material or the like, for example cardboard, corrugated board, wood, plywood, particle board or hardboard at abutting edges such that the abutting boards, panels or the like lie at an angle for example 900, to one another.

More particularly, but not exclusively, the invention relates to packaging containers of the type comprising a pallet and a tubular wall or sleeve to provide location and for retaining goods loaded on the pallet, where the tubular wall has to be secured to the pallet in order to retain the goods on the pallet.

According to the invention there is provided a securing device comprising a first part adapted to be secured to a first board or panel adjacent an edge thereof, the first part having slot means, which slot means, in use extend adjacent but clear of the edge of the first board or panel, and a second part adapted to be secured to a second board or panel at or adjacent an edge thereof the second part having tongue means adapted to engage said slot means of the first device part for securing the second board or panel to the first board or panel.

The tongue means preferably comprise locking means for locking the tongue means into engagement with the slot means.

The locking means preferably comprises one or more ears extending proud of the surface of the tongue means, which ear or ears in use are pushed through the slot means and engage the material of the first device part surrounding the slot means to prevent withdrawal of the tongue means from the slot means.

The first device part may be of channel section, the first board or panel engaging the channel, in use, and the slot means being provided in the side walls of the channel adjacent and parallel to the base thereof. The slot means preferably comprise a pair of aligned slots, one in each side wall of the channel section.

The first device part preferably comprises grip means for gripping material of the first board or panel engaged in the channel section. The grip means may comprise a serrated edge on each wall of the channel section extending partly across the channel. Alternatively, the grip means may comprise corners of the walls of the channel section bent inwardly to be engageable with the material of the first board or panel.

Alternatively to serrations or bent corners, the grip means may comprise teeth formed on the inside surface of one or both channel surfaces to be engageable with the material of the boards or panels, or the attachement may be by adhesive, rivetting, nailing or wire stitching.

The second device part may be of channel section, the second board or panel engaging the channel, in use. The second device part preferably comprises grip means for gripping the material of the second board or panel, in use. The grip means may comprise a serrated edge on each wall of the channel section extending partly across the channel. Alternatively, the grip means may comprise teeth formed on the inside surface of one of the walls of the channel.

The tongue means may comprise a tongue extending outwardly of the channel section, the tongue preferably lying in a plane parallel to the second board or panel, in use.

Alternatively, the tongue means may comprise a tongue which constitutes one wall of the channel section, and lies substantially along one surface of the second board or panel, in use. In this case, the first device part may comprise abutment means for locating the first device part relative to the edge of the second board or panel in use.

The invention further provides a pallet having a deck and a tubular wall for retaining goods on the deck of the pallet, the tubular wall being secured to the pallet by a plurality of securing devices according to the invention, one part of each device being secured to the deck of the pallet, and the other part of each device being secured to the tubular wall.

The securing clip may also be used for assembling the vertical sides and/or the lid of the tubular walls or container.

The invention further provides a method of securing a first board or panel to a second board or panel using a securing device according to the invention of the type where the tongue extends outwardly of the channel section, comprising the steps of securing the first part of the device to the second board or panel, securing the second part of the device to the first board or panel, and engaging the tongue of each second part in the slot of each first part.

The part invention further provides a method of securing a first board or panel to a second board or panel using a securing device according to the invention of the type where the tongue forms one wall of the channel section, comprising the steps of securing the first part of the device to the first board or panel, locating the first board or panel in the desired position against the second board or panel of the device through the slot means and along one surface of the second board or panel, the other wall of the channel section of the second device part engaging the bther surface of the second board or panel.

The first board or panel may be a tubular wall of a container and the second board or panel may be pallet deck.

By way of example, two embodiments of a securing device according to the invention, and a method of securing a tubular wall to a pallet according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a pallet and tubular wall to be secured together by one embodiment of securing device according to the invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a first part of one embodiment of a securing device; Figure 3 is a side view of a second part of one embodiment of a securing device; Figure 4 is a side view of a horizontal board panel secured to a vertical board or panel by the device parts of Figure 2 and 3; Figure 5 is a plan view of the assembly of Figure 4 with the boards or panels not shown;; Figure 6 is a side view of a horizontal board or panel about to be secured to a vertical board or panel by a second embodiment of a securing device; Figure 7 is a view from the right of Figure 6 with the boards or panels not shown; Figure 8 is a plan view of the device part attached to the vertical board or panel in Figures 6 and 7; and Figure 9 is a plan view of the device part attached to the horizontal board or panel in Figures 6 and 7.

Figure 1 shows a pallet 10 having a deck 11, and a tubular wall 12 adapted to fit on the deck 11 of the pallet 10 to retain in position goods which have been loaded on deck 11. The deck 11 is commonly of wood or plywood, and may consist of rails instead of sheet as shown in Figure 1. Two devices for securing the wall 12, which is commonly of corrugated board to the deck 11 are provided, and each device consists of a first part 13 secured to the tubular wall 12 and a second part 14 for engaging the first part 1 3 and the deck 11 of the pallet 10. The devices 13, 14 shown in Figure 1 are first embodiments of a securing device according to the invention and are shown in more detail in Figures 2 to 5.

As shown in Figure 2, the first device 1 3 is of a material such as metal or plastic for example mild steel or spring steel sheet bent to form a channel, or extruded aluminium or moulded plastic. Before engagement with the material of the tubular wall 12, the channel walls 1 5, 1 6 diverge (Figure 2).

End portions 17,18 of the walls 15 and 16 respectively are formed inwardly and serrated to provide grip means which, when the walls 1 5 and 1 6 are forced together dig into and grip the material of the tubular wall 12 (Figure 4).

Adjacent the base of the first device part 1 3, and in the centre thereof, a pair of aligned, parallel slots, 19 and 20 are formed. Locating tabs 21 extend downwardly from end portions of the wall 1 5 to locate the device part 1 3 against the edge of the deck 11 of the pallet 10 (Figure 4). It will be appreciated that the slits need not be in the centre of the part 13, and that the locating tabs need not extend from end portions of the wall 1 5.

The second device part 14 is shown in Figure 3.

The device part 14 is also of a material such as metal or plastic for example, mild steel or spring steel sheet sheet bent into a channel section or extruded or moulded. The channel section has a lower wall 22 from which are raised by pressing or moulding V-shaped gripping spikes 23. From base 24 of the channel section also extends a tongue 25 which is narrower in width than the wall 22 and of a width to be engageable in the slots 1 9 and 20 of an associated first device part 1 3.

Locking tabs 26 are cut and raised from each edge of the tongue 25, although the tabs may be formed, for example, from material which forms part of the tongue 25, adjacent the base 24, the arrangement being such that when the locking tabs 26 have been pushed through an associated slot 1 9, the tabs engage the material of the wall 1 5 to make it difficult for withdrawal of the tongue 25 from engagement with the slots 1 9 and 20.

Thus the container would be assembled by firstly securing first device parts 1 3 to the tubular wall 12 (it will be appreciated that although only two securing devices are shown in Figure 1, more devices would probably be used in practice; for example at least one device on each wall of the tubular wall 12). The tubular wall 12 would then be placed on the pallet and located by the tabs 21.

The second device parts 1 4 would then each have their tongue 25 engaged in the slots 19 of an associated first part 1 3 and the second device parts 14 would then be pushed or hammered into position until the locking tabs 26 engage the inside of the associated walls 1 5 and the spikes 23 grip the underside of the deck 11.

An advantage of this embodiment of the invention is that the first device parts 13 can be secured in position in the factory before despatch to a customer and the positioning of the first parts 1 3 need not be precise. The second parts 14 are simply pushed or hammered into locking engagement once the goods are loaded and the tubular wall 12 located.

A second embodiment of a securing device is shown in Figures 6 to 9.

A first device part 30 is formed from a material such as metal or plastic for example mild steel or spring steel sheet bent to form channel or extruded aluminium or moulded plastic having parallel walls 31 and 32 and a base 33. Top corners of the walls 31 and 32 are bent over to provide gripping spikes 33. Fixing may alternatively be by some other method as previously described. Adjacent and parallel to the base 33 are formed slots 35, 36. The material removed to form the slot 35 and 36 is bent back to provide abutments 37 and 38 respectively or alternatively the extrusion or moulding may incorporate abutments 37 and 38 against which material, commonly wood or plywood, of the deck 11 abuts.

A second device part 39 is also formed from a material such as metal or plastic for example mild steel or spring steel bent to form a channel or extruded aluminium or moulded plastic. The device part 39 is formed into a channel section with walls 40 and 41 and a base 42. Top edges 43 and 44 of the walls 40 and 41 respectively are bent over and serrated to grip material of the tubular wall 12 engaged in the channel, or alternatively the attachment may be by some other method previously described.

A tongue 45 extends downwardly from the wall 40 and is provided by making a U-shaped cut in the sheet of metal which is bent to form the device part 39, the tongue 45 not being bent when the base 42 and wall 41 are formed. Locking tabs~46 and 47 are provided from each edge of the tongue 45 so that when the tongue 45 is pushed through the slots 35 and 36, the tabs 46 and 47 engage the outside of the wall 32 to prevent the second device part from being withdrawn from engagement with the first device part 30. It will be appreciated that the locking tabs need not be at the edge of the tongue 45, and that some other part than the outside of the wall 32 could be engaged by the locking tabs.

A tubular wall 12 is secured to a deck 11 of the type shown in Figure 1 by securing first device parts 30 to the deck of the pallet and second device parts 39 to the tubular wall 12. The positions of the first and second device parts of each securing device must be accurate so that each tongue 45 engages easily with the associated slots 35 and 36. If it is wished to provide a more secure engagement between the two device parts, the end of the tongue 45 may be bent or hammered over to lie against the bottom wall 32 of the first device part.

Claims

1. A securing device comprising a first part adapted to be secured to a first board or panel adjacent an edge thereof, the first part having slot means, which slot means, in use, extend adjacent but clear of the edge of the first board or panel, and a second part adapted to be secured to a second board or panel at or adjacent edge thereof, the second part having tongue means adapted to engage said slot means of the first device part for securing the second board or panel to the first board or panel.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1 comprising locking means for locking the tongue means into engagement with the slot means.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the locking means comprises one or more ears extending proud of the surface of the tongue means which ear or ears in use pass through the slot means and engage the material of the first device part surrounding slot means to prevent withdrawal of the tongue means from the slot means.

4. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the first device part is of channel section, the first board or panel engaging the channel, in use, and the slot means being provided in the side walls of the channel adjacent and parallel to the base thereof.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the slot means comprises a pair of aligned slots one in each side wall of the channel section.

6. A device as claimed in Claim 4 or Claim 5 comprising grip means for gripping material of the first board or panel engaged in the channel section.

7. A device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the grip means comprise a serrated edge on each wall of the channel section extending partly across the channel.

8. A device as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the grip means comprise corners of the walls of the channel section bent inwardly to the engageable wall with the material of the first board or panel.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the second device part is of channel section, the second board or panel engaging the channel, in use.

10. A device as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the second device part comprises grip means for gripping the material of the second board or panel, in use.

11. A device as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the grip means comprise a serrated edge on each wall of the channel section extending partly across the channel.

12. A device as claimed in Claim 10 wherein the grip means comprise teeth formed on the inside surfaces of one of the wall of the channel.

13. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 12 wherein the tongue means comprise a tongue extending outwardly of the channel section, the tongue preferably lying in a plane parallel to the second board or panel, in use.

14. A device as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 12 wherein the tongue means comprise a tongue which constitutes one wall of the channel section and lies substantially along one surface of the second board or panel, in use.

1 5. A device as claimed in Claim 14 wherein the first device part comprises abutments means for locating the first device part relative to the edge of the second board or panel, in use.

16. A pallet having a deck and a tubular wall for retaining goods on the deck of the pailet, the tubular wall being secured to the pallet by a plurality of securing devices as claimed in any preceding claim, one part of each device being secured to the deck of the pallet and the other part of each device being secured to the tubular wall.

1 7. A method of securing a first board or panel to a second board or panel using a securing device as claimed in Claim 13 comprising the steps of securing the first part of the device to the second board or panel, securing the second part of the device to the first board or panel and engaging the tongue of each second part in the slot of each first part.

18. A method of securing a first board or panel to a secured board or panel using a securing device as claimed in Claim 14 or Claim 15 comprising the steps of securing the first part of the device to the first board or panel locating the first board or panel in a desired position against the second board or panel and passing the tongue of the second part of the device through the slot means and along one surface of the second board or panel, the other wall of the channel section of the second device part engaging the other surface of the second board or panel.

19. A method as claimed in Claim 17 or Claim 18 wherein the first board or panel is a tubular wall of a container and the second board or panel is a pallet deck.

20. A securing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.

.21. A method of securing a tubular wall to a pallet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figures 1 to 5 or Figures 6 to 9 of the accompanying drawings.